US: latest ABC figures show continued circulation declines

Posted by Allie Judson on October 31, 2006 at 1:10 PM

The Audit Bureau of Circulations has released their fourth consecutive semi-annual report registering a steep decline in newspaper circulation numbers. The circulation numbers form the recently completed quarter shows a 2.8% drop for daily circulation. Larger newspapers are feeling harsh effects especially when specifically looking at the Sunday Edition which is recorded to have a 3.4% drop. Many attribute the circulation decline to the increase of readers getting their news from other media outlets.

Top newspapers across the nation are feeling the effects of the drop.

USA Today down 1.3%
Chicago Tribune down 1.7% Washington Post down 3.3%
New York Times down 3.5%
Los Angeles Times down 8%
Miami Herald down 8.8%

Although most papers shared in the drop, The New York Post actually saw a 5% incline and The Daily News was also up 1%. While print new has dropped, website journals have increased readership by 8%.

The hit to the US market is significant enough that International newspapers are following it, for example in France and Spain.

The recent drop might not only hurt the paper themselves but future investments also. For example, the Tribune Co. hopes to sell its company all together but executives are skeptical. However, there seems to be much interest in selling individual papers off to local investors.

Sources: Sacramento Business Journal, Editor & Publisher, Los Angeles Times, The Wall Street Journal Online

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